CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Things may be starting to look up for the New Orleans Saints following a six-game losing streak .
Not only are the Saints expected to get a jolt from the return of veteran quarterback Derek Carr, who has been out since Week 5, but they have a chance to get back on track against the NFL-worst Carolina Panthers (1-7) on Sunday. While the Saints (2-6) certainly don’t resemble the world beaters they looked like in the season opener when they ran out to a 30-0 second-quarter lead and trounced the Panthers 47-10 at the Superdome, they seem to have Carolina's number. The Saints are 3-0 against Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and have won the last two games by a combined 59 points.
Saints coach Dennis Allen said his team's dominant Week 1 win means nothing heading into this week. “Zero,” Allen said. “That game was eight weeks ago.
It matters what we do this week in practice. It matters what we do in the game.” The Panthers haven't shown much improvement on either side of the ball under first-year head coach Dave Canales.
Only three teams have surrendered more points through eight games in the Super Bowl era, and the offense remains near or at the bottom of the league in most statistical categories. Carr, who completed 19 of 23 passes for 200 yards and threw first-half touchdown passes in the first matchup, will look to exploit Carolina's leaky secondary that has allowed 17 TD passes — tied for the most in the league. But he is trying to avoid the.